Met officer who hit G20 protester cleared of assault

A riot squad officer filmed striking a G20 protester twice with his baton was cleared of assault this afternoon after the court accepted his claim that he acted in self-defence.

Sergeant Delroy Smellie, 47, of the Met's Territorial Support Group, smiled and gave the thumbs-up sign to his supporters from the dock.

Nicola Fisher, 36, was said to have acted aggressively, hurling abuse at the officer outside the Bank of England. Sgt Smellie said he felt threatened and isolated.

District judge Daphne Wickham said: "He had a mere seven seconds to assess the situation and make his decision. I am satisfied he believed he had to use force to defend himself.

"The prosecution has failed to prove that in striking Ms Fisher he had used unlawful self-defence." Westminster magistrates' court heard that Smellie mistook a carton of orange juice and a camera in Ms Fisher's hands for weapons when she approached from his "blind-side".

He had been on duty for about 28 hours with only a three-hour break when his unit joined colleagues.

Feelings were running high following the death the day before of newspaper seller Ian Tomlinson who was struck by another TSG officer.

Ms Fisher, of Brighton, suffered two bruises to her leg. She sold her story to a newspaper for £26,000 but refused to come to court to give evidence against the officer who was charged with common assault. Smellie had been suspended from duty and would have lost his job had he been convicted. He could still face misconduct proceedings.